AN UNPOPULAR AWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 53

AN UNPOPULAR AWARD.

THREATENED DISLOCATION OF SHIPPING.

THIRTY-THREE VESSELS AFFECTED.

WELLINGTON, October 1. It, wa«. learned from Captain Watson, secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, to-day that he understood a large number of officers in steamers affected by the recent award of the Arbitration Court have already given to masters 24 hours' notice of their intention to quit the service. This course, it is understood, is in strict accordance with < the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Act. About 50 officers are affected. The award to which such strong, exception is taken applies to some 33 vessels under the flags of Levin and Co., Waitau S.S. Co., Canterbury S.S. Co., Karamea S.S. Co., Patea Shipping Co., Anchor Line, Chatham Islands Fishing Co., Wellington and Wanganui Steam Packet Co., Maoriland Shipping Co. (one steamer), Richardson and Co., Johnston and Co., and Westland S.S. Co. " We are so thoroughly dissatisfied with the award," added Captain Watson, "that steps are to be taken to obtain a plebiscite of the guild as to "whether, the registration •shall or shall not be cancelled. All we have gained by the award is four days' extra leave per annum. The chief points ■at issue are the-, hours to be worked and the non-paymant Oft' overtime. This is the first time .we have gone to the court. We have had enough of it. There are no awards in the other ports, but there are agreements as between officers and owners. In Auckland there is, or was, such an agreement. It expired in March last. The ships' articles stipulate that 24 hours' notice shall be given, and I am informed that that notice has been given." Captain Watson was asked if the larger steamers of the Union Company would be affected. Vi .

" It does not affect the Union Company at present, but I would rather not say anything with regard to them." Captain M'Arthur, chairman of the Ship-owners' Federation, is away from Wellington at the moment. It is understood, however, that so far as the owners affected are concerned they intend to abide by the award as it stands. "There is the lr.w," said one of them to a reporter, '' and we cannot do anything else than abide by it as far as we are concerned. I do not see what else we can do." However, a meeting of the federation is to be held on- Monday, when the present position will be considered. In the meantime the steamers concerned will, of course, be without officers on Monday next (when the award becomes operative), unless the owners have made provision for filling the vacancies which will have been created by the officers who have given notice. OFFICERS ON STRIKE. NELSON, September 30. Dissatisfied with the Arbitration award, the mates of the Anchor Steam Ship Company went out on strike from last night. The Kaitoa, Waverley, and Kennedy are hung up, and the Nikau is likely to follow. Apparently this is part of the general movement. GRAVE DISSATISFACTION. SEVERAL STEAMERS HELD UP. WELLINGTON, October 2. In consequence of the mates of several of the coastal steamers ceasing work m accordance with notice given on Saturday the vessels are at present hung up The owners-are now sitting, in conference to consider the position., . AUCKLAND, October 2. . It was expected that the coastal steamers officers* dispute would have come before the Arbitration Court at Auckland to-day, but in view of the action taken in Wellington it is probable that the application for an award will be withdrawn. The men asked for an increase in salaries, an eight-houre day, and overtime at the rate of 2s 6d per hour. An officer in the Auckland coastal fleet, when asked to-day whether he. thought there was a possibility of a strike here in sympathy with the Wellington officers, said it was impossible to say what would happen. A claim for an award respecting the Auckland coastal service had been filed under the Arbitration Act, and was to have come before the court during the present sitting, but the' ships' officers all throughout the Dominion were so dissatisfied with the Arbitration Court, award in Wellington that he believed&tho officers in Auckland would seek to withdraw their claim for an award here. In fact, he knew that that course had been advised by Captain Watson {secretary of the Merchant Service Guild). It was, he declared, absolutely beyond his comprehension as to how the oourt oould have declared that it was a fair thing for officers to work 20 hours out of iha 24. In Auckland officers in the coastal fleets were working 30 hours out of 48, and they wanted less than that; but evidently the Arbitration Court thought they should work more. A meeting of officers had been called to consider the desirability of taking action, but unanimity as to the course to be taken had not prevailed. NELSON, October 2. Unless the ooastal shipping trouble ; s settled within two or three days it is probable that the whole of the Anchor fleet will be laid up. The company has arranged for tho completion of several trips, but all the vessels, on their return to Nelson, will bo laid' up pending a. settlement. It is rumoured that the Union Company's officers may strike in sympathy with those on the

small vessels, although they are not affected by the Arbitration Court award. SEAMEN RESTIVE. AUCKLAND, October 2. It is stated unofficially that the Auckland Seamen's Union has decided to apply for the cancellation of its under the Arbitration Act. There were, it i 6 stated, only from 16 to 20 members Piesent at the meeting at which the decision was arrived at out of the total of from 500 to 600 financial members who comprised the union The Auckland Union's agreement with the shipowners expired 12 months ago last March, arud apparently no fresh terms of agreement have been submitted. The secretary of the Auckland Union (Mr Keen) says - he is not in a position to discuss the matter at present.